Welcome to Public Transit Planning 101

The transit planning program area provides funding to assist local governments and transportation providers with public transportation funding, operational, and planning activities that focus on identifying opportunities for increased service in the region as well as improving the efficiency and effectiveness of current systems. The following topics will be surveyed in Public Transit Planning 101.

Public Transportation Funding and Operations - Staff will support the efforts of metropolitan, urban, and rural transportation providers in the North Central Texas region through the following activities: identify and monitor transit-related issues of local, regional, and national interest; monitor transit appropriations and funding issues; develop annual Transit Section program of projects and coordinate programming of funds in an approved Statewide Transportation Improvement Program; provide technical assistance to providers requesting Federal Transit Administration funding by assisting with coordination of technical information, federal regulations, and grant requirements; respond to citizen, consultant, state, and federal requests for data, information, or assistance; manage contracts with local entities for participation in the Trinity Railway Express; and work with providers to better understand and address the transportation needs of the transportation disadvantaged including low-income, elderly and persons with disabilities.

Statewide Public Transportation Coordination - Transportation Department staff will support the Texas Transportation Commission efforts in coordinating and planning regional public transportation services in response to the 78th Legislature’s House Bill 3588 [PDF]. Staff will work with representatives from metropolitan, urban, rural, and specialized transportation providers; Department of Health and Human Services, Texas Workforce Commission; Texas Department of Transportation; Federal Transit Administration; and other interested parties to develop a Regional Coordination Plan. Funding from the Texas Department of Transportation will be utilized to help support this initiative.

Public Transportation Planning, Coordination, and System Feasibility - This task provides for a myriad of public transportation planning activities including, but not limited to, the following: coordination with metropolitan, urban, and rural public transportation stakeholders; technical assistance, (transit) model maintenance; assistance with planning activities that focus on service initiation and/or increased service; assistance for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of current systems; continued development of analysis tools (e.g., transit user benefit software); and the pursuit of additional discretionary funding. Assistance with service initiation, increased service and efficiency and effectiveness could include travel demand forecasts, service planning, community consensus building, market analysis or follow-up studies to public transportation elections. Technical support will be provided to the City of Southlake in its feasibility study for a “rubber tire” trolley line for the S.H. 114 Corridor and to the City of Dallas for its Central City Street Railcar Circulator Feasibility Study. Consultant assistance may be requested.

In addition to the list above, Public Transportation Department staff will support the ongoing efforts of the metropolitan transportation plan, including air quality conformity, and the Regional Partnership Program, as well as respond to miscellaneous requests for assistance, as appropriate. Request for assistance are received throughout the year from transportation professionals located in- and out-of-state, as well as from the public.